ST. PETERSBURG — While a handful of prospects in town for the annual Winter Development Program ran wind sprints on the field behind him, Rays farm director Mitch Lukevics stood along the first-base line and told the story of Matt Moore.
Moore was just like many of those 20 minor-leaguers when he attended the 2011 program. It was his first visit to Tropicana Field. The next time Moore walked into the Trop was the following September, one day after he struck out 11 at Yankee Stadium to earn his first big-league win.
Moore’s climb to the big leagues that season began at Double-A Montgomery.